DiskJokke Staying In

• Words: Luciana Lopez
• Label: Smalltown Supersound
• XLR8R Rating: 7.5/10

If it seems odd that an artist so closely associated with a renowned club night, Sunkissed, called his debut album “Staying In,” remember that Joachim Dyrdahl is from Norway, where winter gets cold enough to encourage lots of cozy fireside nights. Here Dyrdahl creates instrumentals with spacey textures, layered with elastic basslines and house and disco beats, all at least nodding in the direction of pop. The album’s gentle quirkiness can sometimes feel unsubstantial, but only occasionally, and Dyrdahl makes enough interesting choices to keep the album moving (like the percussive, stripped groove of “Cold Out”). Not exactly a harbinger of mass club closings, though there’s plenty here for the occasional quiet night at home.